Cherubim are celestial winged beings with human, animal, or birdlike characteristics who serve as throne bearers of God, according to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic literature. They are first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 3:24, where they are placed at the east side of the Garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life. The role of the cherubim is not explicitly elucidated in the Bible, but they are often depicted as performing other roles.
Here are some key points about cherubim in the Bible:
- Cherubim are associated with the worship and praise of God.
- They were initially responsible for protecting the Garden of Eden.
- They are described as serving the will of God and performing divine duties in the earthly realm.
- Their wings can sound like Gods voice when they move, and their bodies look like a wild mashup of different animal and human-like features.
- They are ranked among the higher orders of angels in Christianity and continually praise God.
- They are described as formidable creatures who rest at the throne of Gods presence and relentlessly guard his sacred space.
In the book of Ezekiel, the cherubim are described as having four faces (that of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle) and four wings. They used two of their wings for flying and the other two for covering their bodies. Under their wings, the cherubim appeared to have the form or likeness of a mans hand.
In summary, cherubim are celestial winged beings associated with the worship and praise of God. They are first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 3:24 and are often depicted as performing other roles. The role of the cherubim is not explicitly elucidated in the Bible, but they are described as serving the will of God and performing divine duties in the earthly realm.